Danbury girls blow out Greenwich

David Fierro

Updated 11:42 pm, Friday, December 20, 2013

At center, Jamie Kockenmeister (# 23) of Greenwich goes in for a lay-ip while being defended by Danbury's Rebecca Gartner (# 15), right, during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013. At left is Allie Smith (# 20) of Danbury.
Photo: Bob Luckey

At center, Rebecca DeCarlo of Greenwich is defended on a driving lay-up attempt by Danbury players, Rachel Gartner (#5), left, and her sister, Rebecca Gartner (# 15), right, during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

At center, Rachel Gartner (# 5) of Danbury shoots while being defended by Leigh Galletta (# 4), left, and Abigail Wolf (# 21), both of Greenwich, during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

At right, Rebecca Gartner of Danbury leads a fastbreak as Jamie Kockenmeister of Greenwich, at left, pursues during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013. In the background is Danbury's Kayla Handberry (# 25).
Photo: Bob Luckey

At left, Kayla Handberry (# 25) of Danbury rebounds the ball along with Jamie Kockenmeister (# 23) of Greenwich during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

At left, Abigail Wolf (# 21) of Greenwich looks to pass while being defended by Danbury's Rebecca Gartner (# 15) during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and...

At left, Kayla Handberry ( # 25) of Danbury blocks the shot of Caroline Beneville (# 2) of Greenwich during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and...

Foreground, Leigh Galletta of Greenwich (# 4) goes in for a lay-up during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and...

At left, Allie Smith (# 20) of Danbury goes for a loose ball along with Emily Anderson (# 20) of Greenwich during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and...

At right, Kayla Handberry (# 25) of Danbury blocks the shot of Caroline Beneville (# 2) of Greenwich during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

At left, Kayla Handberry (# 25) of Danbury rebounds the ball during the girls high school basketball game between Greenwich High School and Danbury High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Dec. 20, 2013.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Greenwich High School hung in its game against the Danbury girls basketball team for a while, but the Gartner sisters were a combination the Cardinals had trouble solving.

Rachel Gartner scored a game-high 17 points, while Rebecca Gartner had 10 points and nine steals in leading Danbury to a 49-31 victory over Greenwich in an early season FCIAC matchup. The two-time defending FCIAC champion Hatters improved to 3-1 with the win.

"We are finally getting it back together after having more practices," said Rebecca Gartner, a senior guard. "A lot of seniors from last year's team our gone, so we have to fill their shoes. But our younger players are doing a good job."

The loss was the first for the Cardinals, who started their season with three one-sided wins. Greenwich, which made the state tournament last season, has hopes of also qualifying for the FCIAC Tournament this year, so Friday's defeat may be a learning lesson for the team.

"I think this was a test," Greenwich junior forward Jamie Kockenmeister said. "We played three games where we won by a lot, but this tells us where we are standing in the FCIAC. We have a lot to learn after this."

Leading 26-16 at halftime after senior center Kayla Handberry swished a 17-foot jumper the final second of the opening half, the Hatters methodically increased their advantage during the second half. Rachel and Rebecca Gartner converted 3-pointers, putting the Cards in a 34-18 hole early in the third quarter. The lead grew to 45-25 with 6:50 remaining in the fourth quarter after Rebecca Garnter buried a shot from the baseline.

Meanwhile, Greenwich, which executed well offensively its first three games, was challenged to find its rhythm on Friday.

"Our offense was very stagnant," Cardinals coach Chrys Hernandez said. "We allowed them to pressure us and play on our heels. Danbury is a good team and we knew that coming in. They executed their defense, which game us trouble."

The Hatters played an aggressive 2-3 zone and mixed in some man-to-man. The visitors made the Cards work hard for their shots, getting their hands on numerous passes.

"That's what we're supposed to be known for -- our defense," Danbury coach Jackie DiNardo said. "The first few games I was so focused on our offense because we have so many new kids. People think we have a lot back from last year, but we have four starters and everyone else is new. We did a much better job today defensively."

Said Boston College-bound Rachel Gartner: "That was our best game so far, especially defensively. We were communicating the whole time and mixing it up defensively."

Senior center Kayla Handberry grabbed 12 rebounds, 11 of which came in the first half, for Danbury.

"Getting 11 rebounds in the first half was impressive," DiNardo said of Handberry. "Our players down low really did a nice job."

Both teams started slowly on offense. Rachel Gartner's layup off a steal, gave the Hatters a 9-4 lead, but Cardinals sophomore guard Caroline Beneville (eight points) made a 3-pointer, making it 9-7 late in the opening quarter. Danbury ended the first quarter with a 7-0 run though, with junior forward Allie Smith and the Gartner sisters each swishing jumpers.

Trailing 22-11, GHS closed to within six on a basket by Beneville and a 3-pointer from junior Alexa Moses. That's as closest as the Cards got, however.

"When we calmed down after a very hectic start to the game, that's when we started playing better," Rachel Gartner said. "We just set up on offense and played our game."

Junior forward Shannon Geary scored nine points, Smith had six points and Handberry had five for the Hatters. Kockenmeister and Beneville each had eight points, Moses had six on a pair of 3-pointers and senior center Abbie Wolf, who picked up her second foul 3:15 into the first quarter, finished with five for Greenwich.

"It was definitely a tough game for us," GHS senior guard Rebecca DeCarlo said. "The way we played the last three games didn't show tonight. They have an amazing program, but it's difficult when you don't play four quarters of basketball."